Tool box



I. CLINK' TOOL BOX Nov. 7, 1933.

Filed March 8, 1932 U #24 cu/m4 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to tool boxes and certain objects of the invention are to provide a tool box having means whereby the tools that are most often used are installed in the main lid or top of the box so that they may be readily reached, and means whereby the body of the tool box may be closed independently of the main lid or top so that the tools may be removed from and replaced in the lid without opening the tool box body. Further objects are to provide a novel spring tool holding device whereby tools, such as wrenches and the like, may be securely held and readily removed from the tool box.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein: Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the tool box in small compact form that is particularly adapted for automobile use; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing a larger and modified form of tool box that is adapted for shop use; Fig. 3 is a view in transverse vertical section taken substantially on a broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation showing a portion of the spring retaining tool clamp that is preferably used; and Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation showing another form of spring tool clamp.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 5 designates the main body portion of the tool box that is provided with longitudinal and transverse partitions 6 forming pockets for retaining tools, bolts, screws and the like. An upstanding tongue 7 having a hole therein is mounted in the forward central portion of the box body. A cover member 8 is hinged at 9 to each end of the box body and a main lid 10 is hinged at 11 to one side of said box body. The cover members 8 are provided with slots, as shown at 12, that are adapted to receive the tongue '7 when said members are closed as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said cover members may therefore be closed and locked independently of the main lid thus safeguarding the tools within the box body and leaving the main lid open whereby the tools carried or suspended therein are readily accessible.

The main lid 10 is provided with a slot 13 that is also arranged to receive the tongue '7 when said lid is closed. The two cover members 8 and the main lid may therefore be locked at the same time by a single padlock caught through the hole in the tongue 7 as will be understood. An important feature of my invention resides in the spring steel tool holder or clamp 14. Said tool holder is made of one piece of continuous spring steel formed into loops or grooves 15 which are graduated in size from one end to .the other for the purpose of holding different sizes of tools as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. When a wrench or other tool is placed in said loops or grooves their bulging side portions withdraw or recede and after the wrench slips entirely in the springs together thus holding the tool securely in place as shown in dotted lines. As also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, wrenches may be placed on edge in said loops and the bulging side portions thereof will hold them in place. This is particu larly desirable when working with several different wrenches as they may be placed readily in and withdrawn from the loops. These tool clamps 14 may be made in other shapes, as in Fig. 5 wherein a tool is placed under the spring loops which have a depression 16 to retain the tools in place, or as in Fig. 2 wherein tools are likewise placed and the loops are provided with depressed fingers 17 which hold the tools in place.

The idea whereby the tool box body 5 of the larger tool boxes shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be closed independently of the main lid 10 is carried out by means of sliding cover members 18. As shown in Fig. 3, the longitudinal partitions 6 have T-heacls 19 with angle irons 20 secured slightly below whereby said cover members may be slidably opened and closed as will be understood. In the larger tool boxes the top nm 21 may be hinged to the main lid 10 at 22. This arrangement provides means whereby wrenches installed in the spring tool holder 14, which is secured to said top cover, may be very readily removed for use and again quickly placed in said tool holder. It will thus be seen that in both the smaller and larger tool boxes the wrenches, which are preferably installed in the lid for the reason that they are the tools in most constant use, may be reached without opening the main body portion 5 of the tool boxes.

Having thus described my invention, it being understood that minor changes in its construction and arrangement may be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:--

A tool box comprising in combination a box body, a main lid hinged to a side of said body and having a slot therein, a tongue fixed to the body and adapted to be received by the slot in the lid when said lid is closed, a pair of cover members hinged to the ends of the body and having slots therein adapted to receive the tongue and whereby the box body is closed independently of the main 11d.

IRA CLINK. 

